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The Brines of Sua Pan

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The Brines of Sua Pan THE BRINES OF SUA PAN REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA SUBMITTED To: TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM U,S, GOVERNMENT CONTRACT No, AID/SOD PDC-C-0407 NOVEMBER 24, 1980 Human Resources Management, Inc. * 1101 30th Street, N.W., Suite 301 0 Washington, D.C. 20007 Human Resources Management, Inc. 1101 30th Street, N.W., Suite 301, Washington, D.C. 20007 (202) 338-9071 November 24, 1980 Mr. Raymond Dinkin TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Room 220 1400 Wilson Boulevard Rosslyn, Virginia 20523 Ref: Botswana Soda-ash Study Contract No. AID/SOD/PDC-C-0407 Dear Ray: Pursuant to the above referenced contract, we are pleased to submit to you herewith ten (10) copies of the Final Report on the study we con­ ducted on Botswana's brine prospects. The report is entitled THE BRINES OF SUA PAN REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA. It has been our pleasure conducting this study for your office, and we look forward to being of further assistance to TDP in the future. Sincerely yours, George A. Doumani Vice President for Technology Transfer GAD /sd Enclosure: Ten (10) copies. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. SUMMARY 1 II. INTRODUCTION 3 III. GENERAL DESCRIPTION 5 IV. TERRAIN AND GEOLOGY 9 V. CLIMATE AND EVAPORATION 14 VI. BRINE 17 VII. PROCESSING 29 Solar Evaporation 29 Marketing and Inexpensive Transportation 30 Impermeable, Flat, Pond Areas 30 Adequate Evaporation Rate 31 Phase Relations 32 VII. SUA SALT PLANT 33 IX. FUTURE ACTION 37 Market Survey 37 Brine Analyses 38 Processing 39 Water Capture 41 X. TECHNICAL TRAINING AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT 42 Institutional Structure and Functions 42 Manpower Development 47 Training Programs 51 Findings and Recommendations 52 XI. PROPOSED STATEMENT OF WORK 53 XII. BIBLIOGRAPHY 61 I. SUMMARY 1. Sua Pan in northeastern Botswana contains a substantial amount of brine in which sodium chloride or common salt is the main constituent. Other chemicals present are sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, and a minor amount of potash. 2. The area appears very conducive to the operation of a solar salt plant as the net evaporation rate is very significant. 3. Potable water in the area is scarce. Thus, before a solar salt plant is built, other techniques to obtain both salt and water should be thoroughly examined. 4. Previous investigators have stated there is a potential for the sale of about 100,000 tons per year of salt in Botswana and the neighboring countries. This has to be verified by a detailed market study in order to determine the size of an economical operation. 5. Serious consideration should be given to the development of a sal: plant utilizing Sua Pan brine. The size of the plant should be in some ratio to the size of the market as developed by the detailed market survey. 2 6. Serious consideration should be given to making the operation as labor intensive as possible, in keeping with the economics. 7. Additional holes should be drilled in other areas of both the Sua Pan as well as in the Ntwetwe Pan to in­ sure the brine is consistent in quality and quantity sufficient to last for many years. 8. When the salt plant is operational, serious consideration should be given to the extraction of soda ash and perhaps other chemicals from the Sua Pan bitterns. 9. The Government of Botswana is anxious to accelerate the localization process, and looks favorably for cooperation and assistance in technical training and manpower develop­ ment. It is recommended that the U.S. Government take this situation into serious consideration, especially toward the development of Botswana's mineral resources. 10. Chapter XI provides a detailed summary of our proposed statement of work. The proposal consists of four phases. Phase I suggests the need to conduct a definitive market survey. Phase II raises specific questions related to data needs on the consistency of the brines composition. Phase III covers the need for additional data on the physical chemistry of the Sua Pan brine. Finally, Phase IV discusses developing a feasibility study with sufficient detail from which an investor could decide whether or-not to develop an interest in the Sua Pan. 3 II. INTRODUCTION The Sua (Soa)(Sowa) salt pan in northeastern Botswana is one of the largest playa lakes in the world. It covers some 24,000 square kilometers (9300 sq. miles) with brine underlying an area of 915 square kilometers (353 square miles). Much work and many studies have been made on the pan. However, some of these studies have been inadequate or irrelevant and others in fact, are completely useless. The composition of the brine is predominantly sodium chloride (common salt) with lesser- amounts of soda ash, potassium chloride (potash) and sodium sulfate. As there appears to be market potential in southern Africa for these coimmodities, and the area is in need of industry, there are sufficient reasons to restudy the entire situation to determine if there isn't some way or manner in which the deposit can be economically exploited for the benefit of Botswana. According­ ly, a team from Human Resources Management of Washington D.C., spenZ September 14-23, 1980, in Botswana reviewing available data, discussing the project with knowledgeable people in the Botswana Department of Geological Survey as well as others and visiting the Sua Pun area. As the project is of economic interest to the area, steps are proposed for a study to syste­ matically and economically develop the deposit. This report is a summation of our visit and includes recommendations for a feasibility study. 4 Field work, analyses, and report writing were performed by George A. Dotumani and Stanley J. Lefond, representing Human Resources Management, Inc. (HRM). The project was sup­ ported by the U.S. Trade and Development Program (TDP) under Contract No. AID/SOD PDC-C-0407. The views and recommendations expressed herein are exclusively those of HRM, Inc., and do not necessarily represent those of TDP. The authors acknowledge with gratitude the valuable advice, assistance and data given to them by John C. Brower, Economic Consultant at the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs; G. Colin Clark, Director, and David Gould of the Geological Survey Department; and R. W. Jennings of the Mines Department. The staff of the U.S. Embassy, Gaborone, also provided valuable assistance which is deeply appreciated. 5 III. GENERAL DESCRIPTION Sua Pan is the eastern arm of a large playa deposit in the Makgadikgadi Basin in northeastern Botswana (see Map 1). The Makgadikgadi Basin is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) long in an east-west direction and 120 kilometers (75 miles) wide in a north-south direction. Of this large area, the Sua Pan covers an area about 100 kilometers (62 miles) long from north to south and 50 kilometers (31 iniles) in an east-west direction (see Map 2). Actually, only the easte-n part of the Makgadikgadi, the Su" Pan, has undergone any type of investigation. The Ntwetwe Pan should be investigated to determine whether or not there is brine in this pan and if so, is it better than Sua Pan brine? does it contain a diff­ erent suite of chemicals that might have more economic poten­ tial? etc. The Sua Pan lies about 37 kilometers (23 miles) south of the village of Nata and about 158 kilometers (98 miles) west of the town of Francistown. The road from Gaborone to Francistown and Nata is paved (see Map 2). Sua Pan is accessible via an unmaintained road from a point about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Mosetse. This road runs almost due west for about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the end 6 of the spit that extends into Sua Pan (see Map 2). Fran­ cistown is the nearest railhead and largest town in the area with a population of about 20,000 people. The towns in the area are capable of only supplying labor and perhaps making minor repairs. All significant supplies would have to be obtained from Gaborone, which is also inadequate in many respects. Technical people would have to be imported and extensive training programs conducted for middle and lower management personnel as well as for most laborers. Actually, most people in the area do not have a 'mechanical inheritance' and would have to be taught the rudiments of mechanical work. This does not imply they are ignorant, but just that they have not been exposed, in most instances, to this type of work. There is also a scarcity of technical and professional manpower. A chapter is included in this report, which ad­ dresses specifically the subject of technical training and manpower development in the geosciences. Map 1 (Reproduced with permission from Barclays Bank, Botswana) Map Studio CopyghI tesrved ANGOLA ZAMBIA Ko.an '.azungu Llv/lnstone - CAPRIVI STRIP Nom --­ , TsodiloHills W E ST1 NO , A , ziMn " NOTH WEST / mi I ' V 1 , t _,aun akaIamatakda-. k gonlan1M 10 " i: 'Z ..Ma k" ,. 1(h CENTRAs11ai. L 1- re '' -B T' N(1\ i{' .4Prk we Brobao ng Ir 23 No IL'AS =.. ,,T~F of,ou it , o I ! !dm . .. ::~~~~Srl.KGALAGAL wn:0. -. Jq - bf/Bobonong,.,.4., K?' air hea - KWENENG Tshane.4 .....',,i, S AFCA i tl Tshab.h(nn( Wefd Ml 1oba1bth ... € AA AIDSR Mairopong GooHo< ' . Ka Dawt,"C ,u - . A~las.. KW Nd,i 1c S________Al __ M ' we 1:M; H P otaleeraru Mr'2,,a ,o,. 21 a har, he bu rg i. 15 / .JOHANNESBURG c 'jaYen LOCATION BOTSWANA vh me.a-o 85 An 2 or;,a'i,,,rrybusg '' M red? "~ert " '?) 9 a- Intnaloi., Bwr/da/les I Borde PN s t roo" 15 c., k - SCALE 1 5000000 SOUTHI- AFRICA ' ..
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